Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41245533›Full record

ArticleEClinicalMedicine2025

Efficacy of exercise-based interventions for prediabetes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

Eric Tsz-Chun Poon, Po-San Wong, Alice P S Kong, Ajmol Ali

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Eric Tsz-Chun PoonDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
Po-San WongDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
Alice P S KongDepartment of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
Ajmol AliSchool of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Exercise is a key lifestyle strategy for managing prediabetes, yet varied exercise modalities and outcomes across studies have led to inconsistent findings, hindering clinical guidance. This umbrella review synthesises up-to-date evidence on the efficacy of exercise-based interventions in improving glycaemic control and cardiometabolic health in individuals with prediabetes. Methods: For this umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials, we searched seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) between database inception and June 01, 2025, for systematic reviews with meta-analyses comparing various exercise modalities (aerobic, resistance, high-intensity interval training [HIIT], mind-body, combined) to non-exercise. Outcomes included glycaemic control (glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c], fasting blood glucose [FBG], oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT], fasting blood insulin [FBI], and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] and other clinically relevant cardiometabolic parameters (lipid profile, blood pressure, and weight status). Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2, and risk of bias in primary studies was evaluated with RoB2. Publication bias was examined using Egger's test and funnel plots.; certainty of evidence via the GRADE framework; and heterogeneity via the I Findings: From 3064 records, 12 systematic reviews with meta-analyses, representing 162 randomised controlled trials and 18,583 participants were included. Participants were predominantly middle-aged adults (59.0% female) with diverse geographical backgrounds. Overall, exercise-based interventions significantly improved all glycaemic control parameters (all p < 0.001): HbA1c (weighted mean difference: -0.25%, 95% confidence interval -0.33 to -0.17; I Interpretation: This novel umbrella review with large-scale meta-analyses synthesises robust evidence that exercise-based interventions, across various modalities, significantly improve glycaemic control and cardiometabolic health. The findings underscore the versatility of exercise, supporting tailored, patient-centred prescriptions for managing prediabetes. Future research should prioritise high-quality RCTs focusing on patient-relevant outcomes, such as adherence and safety, while exploring the interactions among various moderators. Funding: The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) Research Fellowship Scheme, funded by the Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Indexed as

Glycaemic controlOverviewPhysical activityPublic healthSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41245533
PMCPMC12613059

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.